Upbeat GOP says Mitt Romney is running strong in Michigan, not giving up on native state

Dave Murray | MLive.comKatie Packer Gage, Mitt Romney's deputy campaign manager, said the focus now is on other swing states, but said there are 21 "victory centers" in Michigan, strong financial support and a dedicated ground game. Gage appeared at the state GOP convention on Saturday.

UPDATE:Comments from the Obama campaign have been added to the story.

UPDATE: The story has been updated to include comments from Michigan GOP chairman Bobby Schostak.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI –Mitt Romney’s campaign staffers say not only are they not giving up on Michigan, they intend to win it – and deny Barack Obama a second term in the White House.

State Republicans wrapped up an upbeat two-day convention thinking they have a chance to continue momentum that started in 2010, when the party swept statewide offices and reclaimed the state House of Representatives.

While no one is proclaiming an Engler-esque “firewall,” top leaders in the Romney campaign say the native son is keeping the race tight and could pull off a win. Michigan has not tipped toward a Republican presidential candidate since 1988.

Republicans met in Grand Rapids on Friday and Saturday, with Democrats gathering in Lansing on Saturday and Sunday.

Katie Packer Gage, Romney’s deputy campaign manager, said Romney could gain the presidency without Michigan, but said there is no scenario where Obama is again victorious without the Wolverine State in his win column.

“If we can stop Barack Obama in Michigan, we can stop Barack Obama,” she said during a morning address on the convention floor.

Before the speech, she said Michigan has 22 “victory centers” across the state and has extended more than 1 million voter contacts – sixth most in the country.

“Where is the Obama team in Michigan?” she asked. “Where are his television ads? We saw his organization in 2008, but we don’t see it today.”

She pointed to last month’s rally with Romney and vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan in Commerce Township that drew nearly 10,000 people as a sign of support in the state, and said the ticket has drawn similar-sized crowds in other states.

Gage said the campaign is focusing now on other swing states, such as Ohio and Florida, but plans to ramp up spending in Michigan and other states where polls are close as Election Day draws closer.

Gage said Romney “found his voice in 2012” by focusing on the economy and kitchen table issues – especially finding jobs for the people sitting around it.

She said the president might have inspired people in 2008, but has left his supporters disillusioned with a record Gage said Obama can’t run on.

Dave Murray | MLive.com

“He ran on hope and change, and now he’s hoping to change the subject,” she said. “He is a failed president by any measure.”

Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette said there are waves and phases to a campaign, and said the state is “in play.”

“I wouldn’t over-read the tea leaves here,” he said. “Michigan is a key state, it’s pivotal. I think a very good indication is that Romney and Ryan came here just before the convention. I’ve been through a lot of presidential campaigns. What you don’t do is waste time and you don’t waste your candidates.

“If Michigan weren’t important there would be no reason Romney and Ryan, at the same time, on one day in one moment at the huge crescendo in Commerce Township, would be there.”

She said polls show the key bloc of independent voters swinging toward Romney by a wide margin, 51 percent to 38 percent with 11 undecided.

“Michiganders are worse off after four years of Obama’s failed leadership, folks across the state are ready for the Romney/Ryan plan to get middle class families back to work and our economy back on track,” she said.

GOP chairman Bobby Schostak said the race will be “a dogfight here in Michigan with a lot of spending.”

He dismissed the change in advertising spending as “much to do about nothing, a couple third party organizations that are repositioning around the country.”

“I expect they’ll be back because Michigan is in play. They’re polling constantly. It just may be an issue this week where they thought resources were best directed elsewhere. We know the Romney campaign in committed here in Michigan. It’s spending money here in Michigan.”

Schostak said internal polling shows the race about tied, within the margin of error. He expects that the Democrats didn’t think they’d have to compete in Michigan and are going to ramp up their efforts as well.

“I think that they are not quite as organized. I think you’re going to see it.,” he said. “They see these numbers. The Obama team has said there is not pathway to the White House without Michigan and these numbers are too close for them to take it for granted. I suspect they are going to step it up or they are going to be in the loser column.”

Obama For America Michigan spokesman Matt McGrath said the campaign does have a strong presence in the state.

McGrath said the campaign has 11 Michigan offices, and there are plans to double that in the coming weeks. The campaign hosted 200 convention watch parties, and James Taylor is headlining a concert on Sunday.

"There is NO comparison in terms of organization," he said.

The growing GOP confidence extended from the people making speeches to the alternate delegates in the back rows of DeVos Place.

“I think people will think we need a different kind of change,” said Sandy Glore of Muskegon County, sitting with friend Gail Eichorst, both covered in campaign stickers. “People in Michigan didn’t do well in the last four year and they’re going to want something different.”